Binge eating can sometimes develop following a strict diet, particularly if you skipped meals, cut out certain foods and didn't eat enough food. These are unhealthy ways to lose weight and may mean you're more likely to binge at another time.

Who's affected

Anyone can be affected by binge eating disorder, although it's slightly more common in women than men.

Binge eating disorder tends to first develop during early adulthood, but many people don't seek help until they're in their 30s or 40s.

It's estimated that you have a 1 in 30 to 1 in 50 chance of developing binge eating disorder at some point in life.

Health risks of binge eating

Binge eating is often associated with serious psychological problems, including depression and anxiety which may get worse if you continue to binge eat.

Weight gain is a common physical effect of binge eating, which can lead to obesity. Being obese puts you at risk of getting a number of serious physical health problems, including: